The purpose of the paper is to discuss means of assisting terminally ill patients in seeking for sources ofmeaning and hope, alongside the acknowledgment that their lifespan is short.Psycho-spiritual aspects make asubstantial component patients suffering from incurable illness have to deal with. Evaluating and mapping thecauses and expressions of psychological - spiritual suffering may assist in tailoring appropriate strategies ofdistress relief. Therefore, interventions should be given in accordance with their specific focus of difficulties, aswell as with wishes and needs. Appropriate interventions in palliative psychotherapeutic rapport are inspiredby identifying new sources for meaning in current life (sometimes, aided by past experiences or future visions).Reinforcing sources for meaning may attempt in providing patients amongst: - Equilibrium, between sufferingand sorrow (which sometimes take over the patient's world), and on the other hand, new experiences, sense ofsatisfaction and fulfillment. Individual's acknowledgment that he is not completely withdrawn from the circleof life, and yet significance and fulfillment in life still exists. For a holistic meaning – centered intervention it isadvisable to simultaneously integrate two central axes: the existential analysis, inspired by concepts drivenfrom Frenkl’s Logotherapy, such as freedom of choice, personal responsibility, inner truth, hope andtranscendentalism; the operative axis, enhancing meaning and hope by assisting patient’s wishes come true.Patients are aware, many times, that those wishes may be their last one, therefore perceive their fulfillment ascrucial for their sense of meaning. Moreover, those wishes may elevate patient and family’s spirit and reducerisk of demoralization. Whereas existential – spiritual interventions are recommended to be given by qualifiedprofessional therapists, the operation of fulfilling wishes is feasible by everyone, from family members to multidisciplinarystaff. Case illustrations for meaning - centered interventions will be discussed in the course of thepaper. Cultural and traditional differences within the Israeli society, expressed in themes of work with patients,will lead to the conclusion, that there are many creative ways for researching meaning of life and sources forhope.
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